Page 371 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘Very close about money is Konstantin Dmitrievitch,’
he said with a smile, turning to Stepan Arkadyevitch;
‘there’s positively no dealing with him. In was bargaining
for some wheat of him, and a pretty price In offered too.’

‘Why should I give you my goods for nothing? I didn’t
pick it up on the ground, nor steal it either.’
‘Mercy on us! nowadays there’s no chance at all of
stealing. With the open courts and everything done in
style, nowadays there’s no question of stealing. We are just
talking things over like gentlemen. His excellency’s asking
too much for the forest. I can’t make both ends meet over
it. I must ask for a little concession.’
‘But is the thing settled between you or not? If it’s
settled, it’s useless haggling; but if it’s not,’ said Levin, ‘I’ll
buy the forest.’
The smile vanished at once from Ryabinin’s face. A
hawklike, greedy, cruel expression was left upon it. With
rapid, bony fingers he unbuttoned his coat, revealing a
shirt, bronze waistcoat buttons, and a watch chain, and
quickly pulled out a fat old pocketbook.
‘Here you are, the forest is mine,’ he said, crossing
himself quickly, and holding out his hand. ‘Take the
money; it’s my forest. That’s Ryabinin’s way of doing

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